University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE.

Enter LUXURY and POVERTY.
LUXURY.
Follow me, daughter, that you may perform
Your office.

Pov.
I do follow; but am ignorant,
Where will our journey end.

Lux.
'Tis here:—behold,
This is the house: go in.

[Exit Poverty.
Lux.
(To the Spectators.)
Lest any of you
Be lost in error, I'll in brief conduct you
In the right road, provided you will hear.
First then, and who I am, and who she is,
That enter'd here, I'll tell, if you'll attend.
Plautus has given me the name of Luxury,
The other is my daughter, Poverty.
Now, at my impulse why she enter'd here,
Learn, and be all attention, while I tell.
There is a certain youth dwells in this house,
Who by my aid has squander'd his estate.
Since then for my support there's nothing left,
I've given him my daughter, whom to live with.
As for our play, expect not I should tell
The plot. The old men, who are coming hither,
Will ope the matter to you. In the Greek
'Tis nam'd The Treasure, which Philemon wrote.
Our Poet this translated, calling it
Trinummus; and this name, he begs, may stand.
No more.—Farewell.—Be silent, and attend.

[Exit.